The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-21
Some Suggestions to the Farmers
Alliance.



GRENADA, Sept. 5th, 1887.
EDIToB CLARION: A man who has lived
in Mississippi more than forty years, and
lived in the country most of that time, and
followed the plow handle as industriously
for at least twenty years, as any man in it,
black or white, ought to know something
of farm life as practiced in this State; and
by consequence, ought TO know something
of the farmers rights and interests. While
have been an active member of several
farmers clubs, never joined but one organ
ization whose proceedings were not public,
and that was the Grange, and soon dis
covered defects in that, which in the course
of time, and that not long, before these
defects worked its disintegration. The
Alliance is the latest improvement upon
the many combinations that have been
organized for the farmers interest, and If
I propose to discuss some weak points
seen in that, hope will not be considered
an enemy either to the Alliance or the
farmers, for such conclusion would do
me injustice, and contradict the general
tenor of an active and industrious if not
profitable life in their calling.
/ am glad to see any organization that
promises relief to farmers, for when they
are relieved of trouble without intiicting
disaster upon other industries and pur-
suits, it will be happy day for this coun-
try. ANY organization kept within proper
bounds which is specially for the advance
ment of knowledge in.the farmers pur-
suit, must terminate in success. What we
need mostly, is to adopt plans of labor,
that will turn out most profitable results
on the farm. That, under the present
system, in fifty years our lands will not
remunerate the cheapest labor known, Is a
proposition so plain, that argument to
prove it ''is loves labor lost" In this
field of enquiry alone, there are more rea-
sons and facts than would stagger any
Alliance in this country. But l did not
sit down to give my appreciation to the
good within their reach, for that they have
already had, but to point out some of the
evils which they may introduce.
Agriculture and commerce have travelled
hand in hand, from time immemorial
Go back as far as we can amongst
the records of civilized man, we find these
two great factors of human development
travelling in parallel lines and dependent
one upon the other, and both contributing
to highest conditions of national greatness
Now it seems that it is the farmers wish to
place them both in the same plane and rur
JIlSDl III the Same grove. hOW' my ~
is proposed to establish an agency to buy
their goods by the wholesale from abroad
and ship them to some one with ware
house ready to receive them, and then
each farmer to come in and get his ordered
stock or share. If not this plan, they al
an Alliance, Grange, Wheel or Club pro
pose to go to one firm in neighborlne
town, and contract with him for all theiI
goods at given rate of profit. Garry out
either plan, what will be the results i
will break down, to a certain extent, every
| interior town in the State. Take the towr
of Grenada, where / live, and how long i
would take the splendid business houses
that have been built up here at grea
expense, and adorn our little city, to bt
| tenanted by owls and bats; and the mer
| chants who now control them, living IL
some other country. where they could sci
and buy more safely, invest their remain
| ing capital, and pursue their accustomed
occupation, for which they have beeI
| trained by study and practice. When thu
commerce of Grenada is closed by such 1
| fatal step of the farmers, what inducemen
would there be for fine schools and larg'
churches, for who would build and VIII,
| would fill them with blight on the trade, o
| what inducement for farmers to move here
| for the purpose of educating their children
| for social and religious advantages, whel
| the vital spirit of the town is gone by dis
| turbing the relations of commerce, tina
| have built the town up. Suppose tn
Alliance select one firm, with which to dt
all their trading. The same results follow
for the many would be sacrificed for tn
sake of one or a few Such must be tn
inevitable results of such short -sighte'
policy.
| But | read amongst the resolutions O
every Alliance, and even in their constitu
ton and bylaws, that they are opposed t.
| monopolics. What will this course, whic
| the Alliance proposes to follow, end II
but a monopoly, that will in the end b
grinding and exacting to the last degree
Throw all the trade of any interior tow
in the State in the hands of one, two, thre
or four men, and by combination they vii
triumph over any stipulations that the
may make, and do as all monopolies hav
done before. For such is the history of trad
everywhere, without free and generou
competition and either plan, suggeste
by the Alliance here, as far as l hav
learned, will end as it always has, in tn
bitter being bitten.
But have already trespassed too Ion
upon your columns, and must hasten to
close. Before the Alliance, there Is a gran
and glorious work, but it is not in disturb
ing the commercial or political relation
of the country directly nor indirectl,
When the farmers start out on the reforr
business, let each one learn, that the firs
man to be reformed is himself, and whe
he learns how to improve his time so thu
he can make bale of cotton where he no
makes half, plant more bread stuff *
man and beast, learn that grass Is frlen
: when you have stock to eat it, and not Il
farmers enemy, that raising but one thin
for sale and buying everything else wi
keep him poor and distressed and seeklr
relief, If an Alliance was established
every farmers house. These few hints al
: given in the kindest spirit, for l ha'
l written as much in favor of farmers right
r duties and interest as any man In I'll
: State, and while never made fortune,
: have had long and rough experience; al
while may not be able to tell them nc
to get rich at once, I can warn them
some breakers ahead, which they would I
n we'll to shun. If anybody is anxious
| know who it is so rash as to suggest
: thought to the Farmers Alliance in 4
! State, as we'll as each county, the initis
: that follow will be identity enough.
j. J. w.